Mid Facelift San Francisco

You may think the first place you will notice signs of aging is around the lower face and along the jawline. While wrinkles and jowl formation are often the concern that brings men and women into a plastic surgeon’s office, it’s not the only one. The midface, the area below the eyelid and above the lip, is an area of early facial aging for many patients. You might start to notice a hollowing effect in the middle of the face, just underneath the cheekbones. This area can begin to sag and make you look perpetually tired. When that weary look starts to set in, rest assured there are ways to reverse the aging process and restore freshness and youth to the midface.

The Aging Midface

What happens to the midface over time to produce this aged appearance? First, the bony part of the cheekbone remains high and firm underneath the eyes. At the same time, the softer tissue between the bone and the mouth begins to sink. One reason for the drop is the loss of volume in the area, as the fatty tissue underneath the skin tends to decrease over time. Gravity is the other culprit, pulling the skin downward and created a deep fold between the nose and mouth, known as the nasolabial fold.

There are two fundamental ways to confront this age-related problem. The first is to restore volume to the area, which is frequently done with an injectable filler like Juvederm, Voluma or Radiesse.

By replacing the volume and filling the trapezoidal space of volume loss, we can achieve a lifting effect similar to putting a tent pole into a tent. If we lift the skin of the cheek, this often softens the nasolabial fold as well. When performed by an experienced injector, the results can be quite natural. Dermal fillers can also be administered to other areas of the face during the same appointment to create even more dramatic improvement.

While these products are excellent options for reversing many aging signs, we don’t always need to restore volume in the midface to rejuvenate the appearance. In many cases, we need to lift the sagging in the midface to achieve a natural, more youthful effect. In addition, injectable fillers are a temporary solution to aging and must be repeated regularly to maintain their positive effect. Ongoing appointments can become expensive for some patients. Another option is a mid-facelift, a surgical method of raising the cheek pad and restoring a youthful facial contour. This approach offers dramatic results that are likely to extend for many years, providing a viable alternative for patients that need more correction and do not want to return for treatments regularly.

What is a Mid-facelift?

A mid-facelift restores the cheek pad tissue to the area where it was initially located to reverse aging symptoms. It is recommended for patients that have sufficient soft tissue volume but need the underlying structure to be repositioned to rejuvenate the facial profile. A mid-facelift can give you a more youthful look without expensive fillers and recurrent treatments. However, it is critical to work with a plastic surgeon that understands the difference between volume loss and loss of volume due to sinking tissues to ensure you achieve an optimal outcome. If you have sufficient soft tissue in the midface, a surgical lift offers dramatic, long-lasting results.

Dr. Maas performs a minimally-invasive, percutaneous mid-facelift, which moves the tissue and skin from the lower midface back up to the cheek. The cheek is the high point of the midface, so by targeting this area, we can produce a natural effect while turning back the clock on the appearance. The technique Dr. Maas uses requires a single, tiny incision on the cheek that will be barely visible after the procedure. It can also be completed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia in most cases, minimizing the effects of the surgery on your daily life.

A mid-facelift offers dramatic results as a stand-alone procedure. However, Dr. Maas frequently combines this process with a lower facelift or a mini-lift to further enhance your rejuvenation results. You will discuss your concerns at your initial consultation, where Dr. Maas will take the time to fully understand your goals so that he can recommend the best treatment plan for you.

Choosing a Plastic Surgeon for Your Mid-facelift

Any facelift procedure presents challenges, as the plastic surgeon wants to ensure the face is rejuvenated without producing the “windswept” look of facelifts past. To achieve a naturally beautiful look, the surgeon must know how to reposition underlying tissue to restore the youthful contours of the face, while removing excess skin to smooth the surface and remove wrinkles. Dr. Maas has extensive experience in this area, even performing mid-facelift procedures – with the permission of his patient – for local television stations. When you choose Dr. Maas for your facelift procedure, you can rest assured your surgery will be safe and you will enjoy optimal results.

Before & After Gallery

Procedure Overview

Dr. Maas typically performs his mid-facelifts using local anesthesia, with the addition of sedation when requested by the patient. Rest assured you will be comfortable throughout the process. Next, Dr. Maas creates a tiny incision in the cheek so that he can place the device that elevates and restores the cheek fat pad to its original position. The suture is then anchored through a second small incision behind the hairline that will not be seen after the surgery. The procedure is outpatient, which means you can go home a short time after your surgery.

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What Happens After A Mid-facelift?

Your recovery after a mid-facelift will be relatively short. There is likely to be a bit of swelling in the upper cheek area that can last for about one week. Dr. Maas doesn’t typically recommend icing after a facelift since the circulation in this area tends to be slower overall. Pain medication can be used to keep you comfortable. Bruising after this procedure is minimal. The tiny incisions used for the surgery are nearly invisible, even when you leave our office. Most patients feel comfortable returning to their regular activities within a matter of days. Results become apparent as soon as the swelling subsides. Dr. Maas is seeing that the mid-facelift procedures that he has performed are long-lasting, with results extending over 10 years for some patients. This longevity is apparent both when the mid-facelift is done as an isolated procedure or when it is done with a lower facelift or mini-facelift. You can take steps to maintain your refreshed appearance by protecting your skin from the sun and using high-quality, medical-grade skin care products at home to keep your dermis healthy and vibrant.

Restoring a Youthful Profile

The primary goal of a mid-facelift is to lift the cheek pad and maintain the raised position to produce a long-lasting, youthful effect. This technique works best for patients that have plenty of soft tissue volume and require repositioning to restore their natural facial contour. The procedure is minimally-invasive, and results may last for a decade or longer. If you have any other questions about the percutaneous midface lift or restoring volume in the midface, please call The Maas Clinic^TM at (415) 567-7000 or contact us by email.

The information about rhinoplasty was reviewed by Corey S. Maas MD^TM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.